A Simple Guide to Biodiversity Units: What you Need to Know
If you’re a landowner, developer, or environmental consultant trying to make sense of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), you’re likely to have come across the term biodiversity units.
But what actually are they, how are they calculated, and how do they fit into your legal obligations?
Understanding biodiversity units is key to making informed decisions about land use and development, while ensuring you stay compliant with BNG policy. In this guide, we’ll explain what biodiversity units are, how they’re measured, and how they tie into the broader BNG framework.
We’ll also explore how BioGains helps developers and landowners access high-quality units through habitat banks, offering a practical route to both ecological and reliable financial gains.
What Are Biodiversity Units?
Biodiversity units are the standard metric used to assess the biodiversity value of a site. They’re calculated using Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric, looking at both the baseline condition of a site before development, and the projected value after enhancements are made. Units are calculated based the following factors:
- Habitat type: What kind of habitat exists (e.g. woodland, wetland, grassland).
- Condition: How healthy and well-functioning that habitat is.
- Distinctiveness: How rare or ecologically valuable the habitat is.
- Location and significance: How important the habitat is within the wider landscape.
These elements help determine how many biodiversity units a site generates or requires, forming the backbone of how BNG is assessed and delivered.
Biodiversity Units and BNG Obligations
Under the Environment Act 2021, and as of April 2024, nearly all developments in England must deliver at least a 10% biodiversity net gain, maintained for a minimum of 30 years. This gain can be achieved through:
- On-site measures: enhancing or creating habitats within the development boundary.
- Off-site measures: purchasing biodiversity units from landowners who have created habitat elsewhere.
- Statutory biodiversity credits: last-resort option purchased from the government when other methods aren’t viable.
Using biodiversity units, specially through off-site habitat banks, offers a more sustainable, cost-effective, and ecologically meaningful route to compliance than relying on statutory credits.
BioGains Support With Biodiversity Units
At BioGains, we help developers meet their BNG targets by supplying biodiversity units from professionally managed habitat banks. These are areas of land specifically restored or created to generate biodiversity units in line with Natural England’s standards.
We handle the entire process, including habitat design, implementation, securing legal agreements and permissions, alongside the ongoing long-term management of the habitat banks.
By partnering with BioGains, you get access to high quality biodiversity units with full compliance, transparent reporting, and long-term ecological value.
Start Your Journey Today
Whether you’re looking to meet your biodiversity net gain obligations or explore land-based income opportunities, our helpful team is here to help. We make the process clear, compliant, and ecologically sound.
Get in touch with our helpful team today to discuss biodiversity units, habitat banking, or your next development project.
Email: info@bio-gains.co.uk
Phone: 01392 715497